The beginning of this verse merely repeats in summary form the content of verse 4. The use of therefore in Revised Standard Version serves to highlight the fact that this is a resumé of what goes before it.

By doing which a man shall live: literally “which a man will do and he will live.” The idea that obedience to God’s commandments is a source of life is found throughout the Bible (see, for example, Ezek 18.9; Neh 9.29; Luke 10.28; Rom 10.5; Gal 3.12). The word man is not intended to focus on the maleness of the person involved; rather, it may be translated in some languages as “any person,” or “the person who…,” or “whoever…” (New Jerusalem Bible), depending on the particular structure adopted.

I am the LORD: compare verse 2.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .